I've ported mrxvt to the iLiad and I will be using it as a training tool to help other developers learn what it takes to port X11 applications to run on the iLiad.

First off, mrxvt is a tabbed version of rxvt. And rxvt is a small terminal program that doesn't try to do too much so it stays small in size. A terminal program allows you to execute commands under Linix on the iLiad. You can use it to examine the contents of memory cards, move files to and from memory cards. Set the time zone, set the time... In general it is your swiss army knife of tools that iRex has so far failed to provide.

I'll be using mrxvt to document some of the more useful features such as setting the timezone so your notes have the correct date and time on them (unless of course you already live and work in UTC).

I've bundled this tool up in a manner similar to that I developed for gnuchess. It is a zip file that you need to extract onto a MMC/CF card or onto the iLiad's own internal memory drive.

You will then need to have the [SHELL] hack installed. Navigate to where you extracted the zip and click into the "mrxvt" directory created, then click on the "run.sh" file.

You should see a window pop up like that shown in the picture below.

If you are not an experienced Linux command shell user (and if you don't know what that means: you aren't ) then do try not to brick your iLiad by typing in random things you find to try via Google. I'll be posting articles, please be patient.

The features of this program that I will be sharing via postings shortly are:

1. It knows how to label itself so Matchbox Window Manager lets it decide its window size.
2. It knows how to coax the keyboard into automatically popping up: the right way.
3. It knows how to put away the keyboard on exit.
4. It knows how to invoke a light weight screen refresh so it won't risk triggering epileptic seizures amongst the users.
5. It knows how to turn off the busy LED.
6. It defaults to using one of the few X11 fonts provided "out of the box".
7. It uses nothing but "out of the box" shared libraries, so it is a very tiny program.

For the advanced I'll share how to make an on screen button for it using Matchbox so you can pop it up and then put it away whilst in the middle of other things.

STICKY [This is a first draft, this message says to you: post isn't finished right now]

step-to-step-guide How to copy directories from CF/MMC to iLiad's USB drive without a PCWhat you need to know
How you can start mrxvt

What you want
copy a directory from media card to iLiad. Wouldn't it be nice to do this without a PC? at the beach, in subway, you understand?

Steps
# run mrxvt via run.sh
# what you get is a terminal window, where you can run shell comands
# my terminal says /mnt/free/newpapers/Apps/mrxvt/ #
What does this mean? It shows you in which directory your mrxvt application lies. So this depends, where you copied the binary file [application] mrxvt.
# using mrxvt works this way:
1- you enter a command,
2- then you press enter,
3- mrxvt executes your command & creates a new line,
4- where can enter the next command.
# This will we do. Ok, first we need to change the directory first
type cd /mnt/cf [if you use a CF card] or cd /mnt/mmc [if you use a MMC card], then press "enter" button on keyboard.
terminal gets a new line, which lists the address you typed in. You are now at the lowest dir level [root] of you memory card.
cd stands for change directory, /mnt/cf is the address of root directory of CF card
# you can type ls -l if you want, a contents list of your memory card is shown, this may helps to choose the directory you want to copy.
sample output:

Reading the sample output above, We get following information:
sample root directory of memory card has got 4 dirs [Do you see the d in front of line? It's says, it's a dir]
What the hack is the rwx stuff?
r=read right, w=write right,x=execute right. In sample you have as user/root all rights.
# You can switch with cd command between levels of directories.
like

Code:

cd Linux

,

Code:

cd directoryname

with this command you change the current working directory to subdictionary directoryname.
with

Code:

cd ..

you can jump from your current directory a level up again.
# I decide to copy the directory "Kryptologie" with all subdirectories to the iLiad's Books USB drive.
How to do this. We can you use the copy command.
We type cp -r Kryptologie /mnt/free/books/Kryptologie
This copies the directory Kryptologie to the iLiad's book directory. It takes a while to copy, depending how large your files are, when the copy process is done, mrxvt creates a new line & is waiting for a new command.
general command is

Code:

cp -r /directory/to/copy/from /directory/to/copy/to

How can I exit mrxvt?
# press cross [top right of window] or
# type the command exit

a one-step-copy-process [if you know what you want to copy] in mrxvt could be:

Code:

cp -r /mnt/cf/directory/subdirectory /mnt/free/books/subdirectory

This copies the directory "subdirectory" with all it's subsubdirectories from CF to iLiad's book directory. This is quite handy. This command uses the absolute path address.

note to myself: I need to install fbshot. Some screenshots would be nice.

Q: Can you follow the instructions? Or did you found any mistakes?

a tip: with the up-arrow key on keyboard you can switch between commands you already used.